ATLANTA, GA (Sept. 10) – Georgia Tech’s volleyball team returned home Friday afternoon to host the 1999 Georgia Tech/Courtyard by Marriott Classic, however dropped their home opener to South Carolina, 3-2.
After South Carolina captured the first game by a 15-6 mark, the Jackets struck back claiming games two and three by scores of 15-3 and 15-12, and led 14-13 before the Gamecocks held off two match points, and took the fourth game 16-14.
Once into the rally-scoring fifth game, the Gamecocks led most of the way, holding on to claim the deciding game by a 15-11 score.
Individually, junior middle blocker Teryl Townsend (Alexandria, Minn.) led the way for the Jackets, hitting for a .302 percentage and contributing 17 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Maja Pachale (Schwerin, Germany) added 22 kills for Tech in the losing effort.
In Friday’s earlier tournament games, Arizona State defeated South Carolina 3-0 (16-14, 15-9, 15-6), and ninth-ranked UC Santa Barbara defeated Virginia Tech by a similar 3-0 score (15-5, 15-6, 15-9).
Georgia Tech next plays Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. against Santa Barbara, as tournament play continues tonight and tomorrow at O’Keefe Gymnasium on the Georgia Tech campus.
